A traditional West Coast showdown is going international this weekend, as Padres vs. Giants goes south for a two-game set in Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City.
The series is part of MLB's ongoing international series, and it will be played in a stadium that is a cool 7,349 feet above sea level -- 2,149 feet higher than Coors Field in Colorado, which sits 5,200 feet above sea level.
The Padres are no strangers to Estadio Alfredo. They were part of the proverbial ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2019, as they played the inaugural game in an exhibition again the Diablos Rojos del Mexico, who call the stadium home.
The Padres won that game 11-2. They'll hope to achieve similar results against their NL West rivals the Giants.
MORE: Watch Giants vs. Padres on Fubo (free trial)
Neither of these teams are off to the start they hope for in 2023. The Padres have been playing .500 baseball with a team they built to play in November, whereas the Giants enter in fourth place in the NL West. They're both looking to close out the first month of the season strong, and they'll have to do it in a ballpark where the balls might be jumping off the bat more than usual.
Padres vs. Giants schedule
The Padres and Giants are playing a two-game set in Mexico City this weekend.
| Date | Game | Time | TV channel | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, April 29 | Giants vs. Padres | 6:05 p.m. ET | 3:05 p.m. PT | Bally Sports San Diego, NBC Sports Bay Area, MLB Network | Fubo, MLB.tv |
| Sunday, April 30 | Giants vs. Padres | 4:05 p.m. ET | 1:05 p.m. PT | Bally Sports San Diego, NBC Sports Bay Area, MLB Network | Fubo, MLB.tv |
Padres vs. Giants channel
- TV channel: Bally Sports San Diego | NBC Sports Bay Area | MLB Network
- Live stream: Fubo | MLB.tv
These games will be carried on MLB Network in addition to the local broadcasts in San Diego and San Francisco. They can also be watched on MLB.tv and Fubo, which offers a free trial. Game will be subject to blackout in San Diego and San Francisco through MLB.tv.
Why are the Padres and Giants playing in Mexico City?
MLB announced in August 2022 that the Giants and Padres would play in Mexico City this season, the first MLB games to be played in the mountain city.
The Padres in particular have a deep tie to this stadium, as minority owner Alfredo Harp Helu built the stadium and is its namesake. The Padres have, of course, already played in the stadium, having played the Diablos Rojos (Red Devils) in the first game of the stadium's history back in March 2019.
The Padres are the home team in these games, naturally. They have the advantage, having already played games in Mexico in the past.
The Giants, meanwhile, are playing in MLB's international series for the first time.
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How high is the stadium in Mexico City?
Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu has an elevation of 7,349 feet, far higher than any MLB stadium, including the infamous Coors Field.
Higher altitude means thinner air, which can allow the ball to travel farther. That means balls could find themselves going a long way, particularly with bats like Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Juan Soto, and Joc Pederson.
Coors Field in Denver routinely causes an uptick in offense due to baseballs flying farther.
The altitude can also affect players' health. Oxygen travels through the body slower at higher altitudes, so look for signs of fatigue from players on the basepaths.
Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu capacity
The home of the Diablos Rojos holds 20,062 fans, fewer than an MLB stadium but more than a minor league one.
Twenty MLB teams have an average attendance of more than 20,000 early in the 2023 season, so we will undoubtedly see that MLB atmosphere nevertheless.
